Proving that aging reality shows can still pull a number, CBS's "The Amazing Race" wrapped up its 15th cycle Sunday with double digit ratings gains.
Meanwhile, USA's "Monk" went out on top Friday, ending its run with the most-watched episode of a basic cable drama ever. And ABC's Sunday dramas also had a good night.
The weekend ratings wrap:
--"Race" drew 12.3 million viewers and averaged a 3.7/9 in adults 18-49, according to fast national Nielsen data. It was the best tune-in for the show this season, and up 19 percent in the demo vs. last December's finale.
--ABC's "Desperate Housewives" added 2 million viewers and upticked by 9 percent in the demo vs. last week. It was once again the top-rated entertainment show of Sunday night.
The "DH" performance boosted "Brothers & Sisters" big-time: The latter series was up by 2.2. million viewers and jumped an eye-popping 28 percent in adults 18-49 vs. last week.
--"Monk," airing Friday at 9 on USA, brought in 9.4 million viewers, going out as the most-viewed episode of a drama series on basic cable. Among adults 18-49, the show drew 3.2 million viewers, a series best.
At 10 p.m, "White Collar" got a boost, but not a big one. The fall finale of the first-year drama was seen by 5.55 million viewers. That's a series high, but only 3 percent above the previous record for the show-- a bit surprising given how big the "Monk" lead-in was.
